Episodes
July 9, 2020
Essays on COVID-19; Selecting a College & Studying Abroad; Making the Most of the Summer Financially
COVID-19 looms large for all of us this year, including high school students. For many, it might be tempting to write their essays about their experiences—but should they? We’ll talk through this question and offer our perspe...
July 2, 2020
Essential Executive Function Skills; Summer Plans for Rising Seniors; Finding Scholarships by Major
There are some executive functioning skills that are essential to student success. Michael Delman, founder of Beyond BookSmart, joins us to go over those skills and share tips for how to develop them. We’ll also look at how t...
June 25, 2020
College Level Writing; Listener Q&A
For some students, one of the biggest challenges of transitioning from high school to college is adjusting to the expectations of college level writing. Cassie Hemstrom of the UC Davis University Writing Program joins the sho...
June 18, 2020
Distance Learning; Post-Graduate Years; Borrowing to Pay for College
With the pandemic disrupting in-person classes and raising the question of whether or not students will be on campus this fall, some families are investigating distance learning. Join us to learn more about who might flourish...
June 11, 2020
Adjusting Summer Plans; PSAT Scores & Scholarships; Navigating COVID-19 with Help
COVID-19 has disrupted many things in our world this year, including many high school students’ summer plans. We’ll be talking through how to adjust your activities with social distancing and cancellations in mind. For all th...
June 4, 2020
College for B/C Students & Listener Q&A
News articles, parents, and college themselves can often focus on the importance of earning As in high school classes. But the reality is that many, many of the students applying to college every year are earning Bs and Cs. W...
May 28, 2020
Online Vs On-Campus Costs & Standardized Tests & Computer Science
With next fall’s plans pretty a giant question mark, many families are trying to understand what online study versus on-campus study will do to their costs. We’ll share what you need to know about funding an online education....
May 21, 2020
9th & 10th Grade: Curriculum, Extracurriculars, & Financial Tips
This week’s show is all for the underclassmen, from mapping out a plan for your high school coursework to understanding the what and why of participating in extracurricular activities throughout your secondary school years. F...
May 14, 2020
Pass/Fail & Ideas for Med School Hopefuls & Paying for College
With schools closing and COVID-19 impacting high school instruction across the country and world, some secondary schools are moving to a pass/fail grading scale for the second half of the year. We will discuss the impact of t...
May 7, 2020
You've Made Your Choice Now What? Listener Q and A
While many seniors are still trying to figure out their final college choice for the coming fall, many in this year’s graduating class have committed to their institution. In our first segment, we’ll look what you need to do ...
April 30, 2020
Top 5 College Lists and College Cost Savings Strategies; Deferring Your Enrollnment
Already know that you’d like to defer your enrollment for next year, whether for a specific reason or just to take a break? We have guidance on the who, what, where, and when of requesting a deferral. We’ll continue our Top 5...
April 23, 2020
Pursuing ROTC; Biggest Myths: Admissions and College Finance
Interested in participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps—ROTC for short—in college? We’re welcoming Rob Kirkland, author of The Insider’s Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and Their Parents, to ...
April 16, 2020
Making the Final College Decision; Financial Fit; Don't Like Your College Options?
While some colleges have pushed back their reply date from May 1 to June 1 or even later (we see you, Iowa State!), many students will need to commit to their college of choice within the next few weeks. We have suggestions f...
April 9, 2020
COVID-19 Questions and Impact on College Finance; Listener Q&A
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on high school seniors and underclassmen, and on college finance. In today’s show, we’ll be tackling the question of how to get a feel for a college campus without visiting in person, and...
April 2, 2020
Financial Aid Appeals; Finding the Best Program; One Student's Transfer Story
In a world in which everything seems to have changed overnight, what you have available to pay for college may have shifted drastically over the last few weeks. Appealing your financial aid offer may be more important than ev...
March 26, 2020
COVID-19 & the Admissions Process; Comparing Financial Aid Awards
Congrats seniors: admissions season is in the homestretch. But just when you thought you would cross the finish line with no more issues, here comes COVID-19! We’re interviewing a senior who is in the middle of receiving admi...
March 19, 2020
Computer Science Programs; Questions to Ask on Campus Tours
Computer science programs and majors grow in popularity every year. We’ll explain what they are, who they are for, and what they look for in applicants. In Office Hours, we’re talking through questions to ask on campus tours,...
March 12, 2020
One Year Post Varsity Blues; ABCs of EFC
The Varsity Blues scandal hit the country on March 12, 2019. One year after the news exploded across this country and the world, we’re taking a look at what has changed, what has stayed the same, and how to avoid making these...
March 5, 2020
BFA vs. BA; Gap Years; Cash for College Expenses
For students with an interest in the arts, whether visual, music, theatre, dance, and more, there are two primary college program options, the bachelor of fine arts, and the bachelor of arts. In this segment, we will take a c...
Feb. 27, 2020
State of College Admissions; Spring Break; Maximizing Tax Breaks
Every year, the National Association of College Admissions Counseling releases a report on the state of college admissions. Join us to learn more about the growth in application volume, the national average college acceptance...
Feb. 20, 2020
International Students Applying to US Colleges; Listener Q&A
Applying to US colleges can be complicated. The process can be even more difficult if you are coming from another country. We have advice designed specifically for international students who hope to attend college in the US. ...
Feb. 13, 2020
5 Things Juniors Should Do Now; Free Test Prep Resources
Test prep can be an expensive undertaking, yet we recommend that every student do some prep before they take the ACT or SAT. We’ll be discussing free test prep resources—what’s out there and which options are best. For junior...
Feb. 6, 2020
Fifth Anniversary Show!
If you can believe it, we’ve been bringing college finance and admissions information to you every single week since we launched Getting In: A College Coach Conversation on February 5, 2015. Join us for a celebration as we sh...
Jan. 30, 2020
High School Counselors; Local Scholarships; The Last Semester
Our country is suffering from a ratio of students to school counselors that averages about 455 to 1. In no surprise to anyone, too few counselors is having a negative impact on students. We welcome Harvard professor Mandy Sav...